Cigar bunch forming mechanism



Nav. 14, 1944. J P, 'DWNINGv 2,362,892

CIGAR BUNCH FORMING MECHANISM Original Filed March l, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.|

l' JAMES RDURNINGl A mi Nov. 1.4, 1944. J. P. BURNING n CIGAR BUNCH FORMING MECHANISM original Filed March 1. 1938 4 sheets-sheet 2 zal llll

JAMES P. BURNING ATToRNEY Nov. 14, 1944. 1 p DURNlNG. 2,362,892

CIGAR BUNCH FORMING MEGHANSM Original Filed March 1, :1938K 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 JAMES P. DunruNG BY ATTORNEY i Nov. 14, 1944. 1 p DURNlNG 2.362,892

CIGAR BUNCH FORMING MICHANISM Original Filed March l. 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 JAMES P. D URNmG m f7 'SWW 332W ATTORNEY Y vtype it has been found when plunger,v and the 'A Areceptacle may Patented Nov. 14,1944

- UNITED STAT-Eis l n, l

'crean BUNCH FonMiNlG MECHANISM v Albans; N; Y., assigncr to l' James P. Durning, St.

,International Cigar M achinery Company, a

original application Marchi,

193,244. ADivided and f 1942, serial No. 441,320

l -3 Claims. (Cl. IBI-44) -to feeding mechanisms adapted chiefly for use with short ,ller or soft Work'cigar machines and -constitutes a division of -my -co-pending applica- ;isss, serial nc.

this application June 177A acters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

tion, 4Serial No. 193,244 iiled March 1, l1938, for Feed for cigar bunch machinesonowA Patent No.'y

2,306,381, vissued December29, ,1942

- The invention rel tesl primarily to .improved tobacco and ior forming I tobacco `suitable for vforma.

mechanism'for handling charges of short filler y tion into cigar bunches.A Inmachines of this handling short ller tobacco that this kind ofwtobacco tends towork Abeneath land above the iplunger of thefztobacco v compression chamberl and severely interfere with the. most efficient operationof the machine. 'lIt is an object,`therefore, of the invention to provide means forming a part ofthe compression chamber which allows the plunger to be substantially 1 'self-cleaning, so 4that vat the end of eachofrearwardly reciprocatingy stroke any tobacco-tending to cling to any -par-t of ythe plunger will-be removed therefrom, thereby obviating the necessity of stopping the machine to clear this `particular part. f l A further object of the invention is the provision of ngers at the rear of the compression chamber which act as Iguides for the plunger and permit the upper and lower .faces of the major part` of the plunger to be exposed when the plunger is retracted so that particles tending'to wedge between either or both ofthe facesof the top and bottom of. thechamber, can drop from the plungerand thereby eliminate jamming or clogging ofthe machine, or interference with proper measurement of, charges. be provided for` receiving this waste, and y'if desired this receptacle 'maytake 'the l formy of a pneumatic conduit, -which when `provided with a conveying particles present. The invention also has an objectin the profluiddraws off any waste hereinafter fully'described and then set forth inl the claims' hereunto appended.v ,v

' In the accompanying drawings which forma r,

part of this specification, and in 'which like charvision of means for creating suctionin the'suction` ects not speciiically scale plate'10, each side'ed'ge of v.Figure lisa partial side elevation of the machine;v`

Figure u2 is a 4'iront elevation ofthe knife,l theA x transferfand the bunchrolling mechanisms and 'their respective drives, taken on line 2-'2 of'Figfel-,... v ,I Figure 3 isa sectional front elevation of the machine taken online 3-3 of Figure 1;y

-Figure 4 isa sectional side elevation of the scale, the-guide chute, themagazine, the knife andthe transfer mechanisms .of the machine;

Figure 5 is apartial plan View of the rearend of the'magazine. n n `The machine consists of La'bed vplate 2U suitably mounted upon two supporting frames "2i, and is driven `by means of ed on a bracket23 yheld by one of the frames 2l. Motor shaft 2l carries a 'pulley '25 which, by meansrof a belt n2li, drives a pu'11`e'y121 Irio'unted on a Vsnai/t28 driving through a clutch (not shown) a .set of conventional reduction gears (not shown), supported in and enclclsedby, 'a housing 29 which is mounted on one df the frames 21. A shaft 30, connected to said gear train and `projecting. from 'housing 29, 'carries a gear 31 meshing with gear 32 mountedon the main cam shaft 33 supported 'by bearings in frames 2|. v

A vquantijsfpf .short filler tobacco is placed in `a hopper H (Figures 1 'and 4) suitably supported on leaf springs (not, shown) and arranged -to be vibrated Whenever tobacco is pan ,"Ihe construction and operation of the hopper H `forms no Apart of this divisional appli.- cation and iurtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessaryg` A 4The tobacco is edfr'mnthe mass Within the hopper H onto the feeding trough '49 where said tobacco will 'form .a 'thin layer T (Figure 4) vDue to the vibration imparted to hopper H, said'layer T will move over section 49 towards and discharge intoa scale pan, designated Agenerally P, of a scale mechanism illustratedin Figures 3 and 4. The 'scale pan of this 'embodiment located below the mouth ofeed trough 49, coniists lof avertical n 'which is provided with ra "lug 1I, "arranged to engage Vindividual -pivots 12, Whichare mounted inscale arms 13, bothof which 'are .fixed on a scale shaft 1li.'L The latter is provided with apairof, knife edges 15 resting inknfe edge blocks 15 fastened by means of studs 11 to a U-shaped s upprn'ting'k bracket 18 mounted onabracket 19 attached to the hopper supporting frame 39. f I'he 'upper portion Iof scale plate 10 carries'a pairo'f studs 80 pivotally mounting a scale receptacle-8iforming, tqgether with and .f

amotor'22 (Figure 3) mountl to be fed to scale 8|, swing around into alignment and fall to the bottom of the pan. To scale shaft 14 is fastened a lug 82 carrying a threaded stud 83 which supports a movable Weight block 84. The latter serves the purpose of balancing the scale pan as well as determining the amount of tobacco neces,

sary to trip the scale pan.' The ends of the U- shaped supporting bracket 18 carry a guide shield 9U (Figure 4) provided to avoid spilling of tobacco during the feeding operationof trough 49.

As the thin layer of tobacco, forwarded by the vibrating feed trough, is fed into the scale pan just described, the latter trips when the desired amount fis deposited therein. As the scale pan trips, a mercury switch 9|, connected in an electric circuit (not shown) and attached to one end of scale shaft 14,jis swung through an arc thereby breaking the circuit and thus stopping the feed of tobacco to the scale pan P. In order to prevent additional tobacco from discharging from the hopper into the scale pan after thesame vis tripped, a tobacco ilo'w'control plate 92swings downwardly and closes the mouth of feed trough 4S as soon as the vibration of hopper 34 is stopped. Since this `mechanism forms no part of the present invention, further description or showing is deemed unnecessary.

Subsequent to the tripping of the scale pan, the measured quantity of tobacco is discharged therefrom andtransferred into'a lcompression magazine. The guide chute consists of a pair of adjustably mounted stationary side guide plates |59. The front and rear walls of the guide chute consist of a movable' magazine gate ||0 and a movable end guideplate'lH, the former and the latter movingfin synchronism with each other. Plate is fastened to a flange ||2 mounted on a shaft' ||.3,loosely supported in bearing lugs ||4 of bracket 18. To' shaft ||3 is also fastened a lever `||5 (Figurell) which through la link H5 is connected toa lever ||1 mounted on a shaft ||8 supported by means of bearing brackets ||3 attached to magazine side rails mounted on magazine bottom plate |2| supported by frame |22 secured to bed plate 20. To shaft ||8 is fastened the magazine gate ||l| which is operated by means of a lever |23 (Fig ure l) also mountedY on shaft ||8. Lever |23, through a rod |24, is connected toa lever |25 mounted on a shaft |25 (Figures 1 and 4) supported by bearings of frame |22, Shaft |26 carries a lever |21 tol which is fastened a crank pin |25 engaging with a slot`|29 (Figurev 4) of an arm |30 attached to one end of a connecting rod |3| (Figures 1 and 3)'. The other end of the connecting rod vis pivotedto a cam lever |32 (Figures 1 and 3) carrying la cam follower |33 engaging during a part of each cycle of the machine with a cam lug. |34 (Figure 3) fastened tothe main driving gear 32. y n

The magazine is formedvby the bottom plate 2|, two adjustably mounted. side plates |35 (Figures 3 and 4), astationary front end top plate |33 (Figure 4), the magazine gate Ill) which oscillates on shaft 8 Aand astationary rear end top plate |31. f Top plates |36 and |31 are mounted on and supportedl by side rails |20 fastened to bottom plate |2|,

When the magazine is ready for a charge, and the scale pan holding the `desired amount of tobacco is to be tripped, magazine gate l0 swings upward in the direction indicated by an arrow in Figure 4. During this movement, magazine gate IIB with its free end engages a prong |38 on the scale receptacle 8 causing the latter to move from the scale plate 10, thereby permitting the tobacco in the scale pan to discharge into a funnel formed by the magazine gate Hi), the end guide plate and side guides |09. The plate of course, due to its connection to gate I0 has followed the same during its upward movement, (Figure 1 shows the scale pan open with the magazine gate standing in upright position and plate swung towards the vertical gate IMJ). This funnel shaped guide chute serves chieily for the purpose of keeping the tobacco pieces in their longitudinal position which they assumed while being fed into the scale pan, described heretofore. As gate Il swings downward again toward the magazine, plate also rocks backward and away from the gate Htl. In so doing the tobacco charge is evenly distributed and guided into the magazine. The scraping action of the end of gate |0 upon plate during this downward movement transfers said tobacco charge in a most desirable mannerand avoids the disturbing of the position of the tobacco pieces'.v When gate ||0 has returned to its normal position, a reciprocating plunger |39 operates to press the charge C into a waiting charge transfer (Figure 4).

In order to prevent the scale pan from swinging upward as soonas its charge is released, the shaft ||3 which carries back plate is equipped with a lug |40 (Figure 4) which, during the upward motion of gate H3 and plate engages with a roller |4| pivoted to a lug |42 mounted on scale shaft 14, thereby holding the latter in an angular position and preventing the scale pan from 'swinging upward while the magazine is still open and the gate in an upright position. This arrangement has the object of preventing the hopper from starting to vibrate and from feeding a new charge before the magazine gate is closed. As gate |||l disengages from prong |38 of the scale receptable, the latter, due to its own weight, will swing back and contact scale plate 10 again, thus making the scale pan P ready to receive a new charge.`

The scale is chiefly employed for the purpose of maintaining the righ amount of tobacco in the magazine and of preventing over or under loading of thesame. The guide chute has the object of guiding the tobacco charge from ythe scale pan intopthe magazine without changing ythe longitudinal positions of the tobacco pieces during this transfer operation.

Thev reciprocating plunger |39, which compresses the tobacco in the magazine, is equipped with a plunger rod |43 slidably supported by an operating lug |44. Io the free end of said plunger rodf|43 is fastened a horizontal trip bar |45 (Figure 4) carrying on its free end an adjustable trip stud |46. The upper portion of operating lug |44 carries a turnable member |41 rwhich on one end is equipped with a hand knob |48, while the other end is provided with a threaded eX- tension |49 carrying a lug |50 slidably supportying in its lower portion the plunger rod |43. Operating lug |44 is equipped with a pair of studs |5| by means of which it is pivoted to a pair yof brackets |52 mounted on an operating arm |53 pivoted to a crank pin |54 (Figure 3) held by a agscagreeal oraal: rsamountoaon share; use suppotoaayf bearing bracket =I 51 secured :tothe lower 'sid-e' :of-

bed plate `20.-- `Arno- 1253 islsiidably supported iby means fof aguicle' lever cam; llever-shaft |59 .supported by. `bearings of frames 2| :fGui-de lever cagm'jlever4 |60; carrying a Acam gaging ywith Aa cam ytraacl; V| 62 -`of cam oncamshaft 33.'v i

follower l| 6| 'ien- While camlever |60 imparts oscillating .motion to'- guide lever 58 'carrying' the plunger "operat-z the lever .is transarm '|53 bythe-action of crankf|55 'connected to said :arm v1 by lcrank pinf1lg54. For adjusting purposes, the

ing-arm |53, this motion yof formed into-fa reciprocating-motion of crank pinis eccentrically mounted on a suitable bearing of crank |55 (Figure y3) Itl'lerebyproviding means for making extremely ,line adjustments. Plunger |39 is actually reciprocatedfrom arm |53 through lug |44 and member |41 meansof lug |50 which, during its forward stroke 'pushes against a spring |64@(Figure 4) placed between said lug |50 and plunger |39.

|"6'4is`loosely wound around vand supported loy plungerrod |43 andfserves `the purpose of taking.

x Spring Careof any lost motion thus permitting arm |53 tofreely complete its stroke regardless of the amountof. tobacco .stored in the magazine, and avoiding'jamming in the magazine andy assuringv a more or less even amount of pressure of vplunger |39 upon the tobacco column within the magazine during each forwardstroke of said plunger. The backward 4stroke `of plunger |39 lis accomplished by means, of lug |44 contacting bar |451to which the free end of plunger rod |43 is fastened. The pressure of spring |64 upon plunger |39 lcan be changed tov any desirable degree by turning of hand 'knob |48 of member |41, causing' lug |50 to vdepress or release spring |64 (Figure 4). rThis v valuable and desirablel feature permits the use of rvscrap tobacco of all types and sizes which may require a different pressureand density.

' The rearend of top plate |31 and the rear end of. bottom plate |2| 4of the magazine ,(Figures 4 and 5) are vequipped with a number of fingers |,6'5`(Figure 4)provded for the purpose of a1- lowing any .tobacco which may lbe held bythe plunger between the topjand bottom plates to fall` therefrom and be removed from the machine,

thereby assuring that thel plunger isv kept clean' at all times. This is :because lingers |65 act as guides for supporting plunger |39 properly for movement in the 'compression chamber, and at thecsam'e vtime expose the major portion of the topand bottom of plunger |39 when the latter is fully retracted as shown in Figure 5.' This is importantfbecause other vtobaccofmight ywedge between the .plunger and top and-bottom platesy |31 and y112|, respectively, anda'lfect the uniformity of charges formed. Because ofthe selfcleaning coaction between plungerj|39 and lingers |65, this conditiony is eliminated," kIn order to more positively remove such waste tobacco, a fun- 1 as mounted shown) projecting'from supporting 'frame Trip lever |14 is part of a lbell crank 1everfcon-v |18, to-eaoh 'of which nel" lllligure14.),r attached to thelrear end of the magazine and connected through a -tu1be |61 to the pneumatic systemvo'f the machine vcon- I ducts -any tobacco `pieces or dust deposited at the rear end o f -said magazine,

Trip lstud |46 rrnounted'on bar |45 yis providedV for rthe purpose `of, tripping or 'operating .a control mechanism which `is`-esseifitial for checking the `operation yof the magazine gate ||0 `which .in tur-n controls .the discharge of Vtobacco chargesfrom the scale pan P lto the magazine. i Q This lcontrol mechanism, .illustratedin Fig-ure 1- equipped with trudes a lock finger |782 which,

ciprocating plunger rod |68 is pivotedtotastud |69 held by a hub (not shown)y of` supporting frame 39. rThis lever is a weight ;|1|k and'carries on A.its

lower portion -av latcnlock |12 (Figure 4) engagingwitha latch |13 attached toa trip leverV sisting of arm :|11 'and' pivoted a follower-|19 and |180, respectively,

. |11 is', furthermore, -provided with a weight-|84@ |19 and |80 proby means yof stud In the space between follower `to arm -being provided with ya |83 (Figure 4) is ypivoted ofsaid look fingery also recess |84. g i L t When there is ylittle zor notobacco in thev magazine', the plunger |39 during its forward stroke can move substantially the entire length of the` Lmagazine and stud |46 will tripcontrol lever 168 standing in theypath of said stud sincethe latter is held by bar- |45 which is mountedlon the re- I43. 'Ihe tripping of control lever |68 will cause the disengagement of latch lock |12 from latch |13 mounted on trip lever 14,l thereby, due to weight |8'I, causing trip lever |14' to Swingin such a way that follower |19on arm |111 strikes lock linger |82 `and swings yit aboutus ,pivot |83 to suon a position that who recess |84 of said linger is located .directly beneath the crankpin |28.v As arm |30, through cam .lever |32 and connecting rod |3| during the next cycle vofthe machine moves upward again,'

recess |84 will; engage with and seat crank pin |28 therein, andl upon continued upward movement lever I 21 on shaft |26 is taken upward also, thereby rocking lthe magazinegate ||0 to open the magazinejto receive a measured charge of tobacco from the scale pan. After stud |46 trips' control lever |68, which causes the disengagement of latch4 lock |12 from 1atch |13, plunger |39 returns to its extreme rear position and, dueto weight |1I,` latch look |12 comes to rest with :its concave end surface |85 contacting the tripped latchfl13. During the upward-,movement of arm |30, when recess |84 offinger |82 engages with crank piny |28 of lever |21, the side vedge |86 vof lock linger |82 comes against contacty followerV |318V on arm |11, thereby affecting an upward movement of trip lever |14 and causes a resetting of latch lock |12 and 1atch |13. After the scale pan has delivered the charge to the guide `chute and magazine, the gate ||0 is closed again by the.

downward motion of arm |30the slot |29 .of which engages with thecrank pin |28. During this downward motion, the other side edge :|81 of lock linger |82-will contact the follower |80 of arm '|18 (Figure 4) and, since trip lever |314 is, in locked position again, causes 'a disengagement of recess |84 of nger |82 from crank pin 128.". In' order to prevent lock linger |82 from swingingtoo far one way or the other during'r 'its contact with follower |19 or |80, arm |130 carries a stop pin |88 (Figure 4) whichengages -with a slot |89 `in finger 1| 82. v

The control mechanism, just described, must be' trippedA every time before the magazine vgate can from the scale pan.

When during the/operation of vthe maclfiine,` sufficient tobaccocfis' "present in the magazine, plungerv|39 can enter only a short distance into therLmagazi-ne and trpstud |46 lof bar |45 fon'- iL-*consistsfof a vvertical.':contr'ol leverl |68 wiiclrf`- stands upright in the patnof ltrip stud 46. Lever-fj 30, the free 'end' beopenedwto'` admita tobaccocharg'e deliveredl trip the control mechanism lever |63. In this case, as arm |30 moves upward, finger |82 will not .be rocked into position to seat pin |28 in recess |84 and hence lever |21 will not be moved to open gate H0. Slot |29 in arm |30 allows the latter to move upward without disturbance or action upon the crank pin |28 projecting through said slot. The magazine gate ||0, of course, remains closed and will not move to open position until the magazine supply of tobacco reaches a point at which need for additional tobacco is communicated and the control mechanism is tripped again.

During each forward stroke of plunger |39, the latter pushes the tobacco charge C into a charge transfer which, after the charge is cut off from the remaining tobacco column in the magazine by means of a vertically reciprocating knife |90, transfers said charge into a loop |9| of a rolling apron |92.

The tobacco charge transfer consists of a housing |93 having a slidable ejecting plunger |94 mounted on a single rod |95 slidably supported by said housing. fastened a stud |96 (Figures 1 and 2) while to the other end of said housing is secured a stud |91. The latter is loosely supported in a bearing lug of guide sleeve |98 and stud |96 is loosely supported in a bearing lug of guide sleeve |99. The latter as well as sleeve |98 ported by means of a pair of vertical operating shafts 200, also slidably supported by means of bearings 20| (Figure 2) of bed plate'20. Shafts 200 at their lower ends Vare connected by and mounted on a bridge bracket 202 which carries in its center portion a lug 203 to which is pivoted To one end of housing |93 isy are slidably supone end of a connecting rod 204, while the other end of the same is pivoted to va cam lever 205 carrying a cam follower 20E engaging with a cam track 201 of a cam 293 mounted on main cam shaft 33. Cam lever 205 is loosely mounted on shaft |59. Cam lever 205, through connecting rod 204 and bridge bracket 202, imp-arts vertical reciprocating motion to operating shaft 200. The

upper ends of the latter are also connected byv a, bridge bracket 299 carrying by means of pivots 2|0, a knife supporting frame 2|| to which is attached the knife 90. latter is slightly V-shaped and the lower portion of said knife is provided with Atwo fingers 2|2 (Figures 2 and 4) which are inisteady Contact with a ledger plate 2|3 (Figures 3 and 4). The latter forms an extension of the magazine bottom plate |2| and is supported by the magazine frame |22.

In order to' facilitate adjusting or setting of the ledger plate 2 I3, each end of the latter is equipped with projections 2|4 (Figure 3), each of which is contacted by a set of adjusting screws 2|5 (Figure 1). Said screws 2|5 are supported by 'lugs 2| 6 of magazine frame |22 In order to take care of wear and tear automatically and to assure a permanent and good contact of knife |90 with ledger plate 2|3, a pair of spring mounted rollers 2|1 may be employed. These rollers engage with knife supporting frame 2| l at part a steady tension upon knife |90. The novel knife mounting makes it possible to remove the knife for sharpening or replacement without tearing down the whole assembly. Also, because of its arrangement, any obstruction in the tobacco, such as a nail or other substance, will not break the knife, or otherwise damage the knife since it caniiex out of the path of the obstruction- The cutting edge of the all times, and imin the manner above 2,362,892: plunger rod |43 will not be able to engage and thereby obviating cutting into this type of hard, unyielding substance. Because of the provision of a small gap between the top plate |36 and the top of housing |93, knife has room to ex described. Each one of rollers 2| 1 is pivoted to the forked portion of a lever 2|8, each 'of which is loosely mounted on a stud 2|9. The lower portion of each lever 2|8 is provided with a spring 220 (Figure 4) supplying the tension to said rollers 2|1, thereby providing abetter shearing action to the `knife |90 upon ledger plate 2| 3. One of the studs 2| 9 is held by a lug of guide sleeve |98, while the other stud is held by a lug of guide sleeve 99. The latter. is connected to sleeve '|98 by means of a bridge frame 22|.

The stud |96 of transfer housing |93 is mounted a crank 222 (Figures l and 2) carrying a, crank pin 223 which, during operation engages with a vertical track 224 of a cam lug 225 held by a bracket 226 mounted on bed plate 20. |91 a transfer housing |93 is mounted a cam lug 221 (Figure 2.) provided with a track 229 with which engages a stationary guide pin 229 held by a lug 230 of av switch housing 23| mounted on bed plate 20. To each of the guide sleeves |98 and |99 is pivoted a control rod 232 slidably supported by means of bed plate 20 and frames 2|. The lower end of each of the vertical control rods 232 projects through a lug 233 extending from each side of bridge bracket 202 (Figure 2). Each of the rods 232 is provided with a stop collar 234. Around each control rod 232, between collar 234 and lug 233, is wound an expansion spring After the tobacco charge C has been pushed into transfer housing |93 by means of plunger |39, knife |90, by means of cam lever 295 and bridge bracket 202, is moved downward, thereby cutting the charge in the transfer from the tobacco column in the magazine. During this period the transfer will remain in its horizontal position while being held by springs 235 which eX- pand during the downward motion of the bridge bracket 202 and hold rods 232 by means of collars 234 in their upmost position; rods 232 support and thereby control sleeves |98 and |99 which carry the transfer. During the downward motion of knife |90, but after the same has cut the tobacco charge C, a pair of vertically mounted, adjustable studs 236, held by bridge bracket 209, contact a pair of lugs 231 (Figure 2) of the bridge frame 22|, thereby forcing sleeves |99 and |99 to follow the downward motion of the knife mechanism, and naturally,` causing the charge transfer to descend also.

During the downward motion of the sleeves and transfer, crank pin 223 of crank 222 enters the track 224 of cam lug 225, and cam track 228 of cam lug 221 which is mounted on stud 93 engages with stationary guide pin 229, thereby causing the transfer to move from a horizontal position to a vertical position by making an axial turn of 90", after which the tobacco charge carried by the transfer is discharged into a loop |9| of a rolling `apron |92 which may be of conventional design. In order to prevent any tobacco from sticking to or remaining in the transfer housing, a pusher arm 238 (Figure 2) contacts the `ejector, rod |95, causing ejecting plunger |94 to move downward until the same is even with the outer walls of the transfer housing |93. Pusher arm 238 is pivoted to a stud 239 held by a lug of sleeve |99. To stud 239 is also pivoted a bell crank lever consisting of an arm 240 and an arm 'ro stud livalve;216;.'1 To shaft 216isalso ,fastened a lever .266"to which ,pivoted a-roller 28| hanging in the path of acam piece262 'attached to cam |63.

243. Arm 246 is.' connected'withI a"1ug7-242"t,oi Ypusher 238 by means of'k acoll spring,` 24| (Figure 2); yArrn243 .extendshorizontally from its. support and', during. the downward motion'of Vsleeve '199,contacts ianadjustable stud 244, held L `by thestationary cam lng.- 225` thereby causin-g arm 246,- through spring 24|, to press pusher arm r2.3.8.- downwardagainst ejector rod |95. m'ountedplunger 245s1idably held by a lug '246 of sleeve |'99`keeps arm 238 away from ejector rod l A spring 1| 9 5, when arm 243.is not in contact` with stud 244. .f rtAfter -,the tobaccor charge deposited by `the 4.transfer into 'the apron loopy 19|, bridge bracket v2112, through cam lever 265,y moves upward again,

which, ofcourse, also effects-an ascending of the .transfer as wellA as ofthe knife At96.. During. this upward movement, cam lug- .2211`,. engaging `with its track 228: withguide .pin 229, and pinA 223 `trai-lyingr in' track 224,2`swing the transfer 'again90 from itsvertical dischargev position back toits horizontal receiving position'.v Either `pin 223' or y229v is engaged in its respective cam track at some 'part of the cycle of the'machine, thereby insuring vthat the movements of the transfer will alwaysbe positively controlled. A feature of the operating means. and construction 'ofthis transfer mechanism lies in the positiveY guide' and suppmtiner means the transfer lhasin any position or during movement of the same'.` f y w y' .After the tobacco chargeis deposited 'in loop .19| of rolling apron |92, a horizontallyreciprocate ing: rolling pin 241 rolls said lchargeintoa binder VBfFigure 1) thus forrning'acigar bunch. Rolling pini241 isV pivoted-ateach end to a bearing justablyimounted on` a forked supporting bracket 249i fastenedfto a guidebar 256i slidably supported bywmeans of a track formed by the lower portion '2510i a rolling'table-252'. Supporting bracket 249 and bar 256 carrya stud 253,*t the upper` end of which is pivoted a cam follower 254 engaging with va-cam track 255 (Figure 2) in portion 25| ofv having a number of holes 265 (Figure 1) leading to the rolling surface of said table 252. Holes 265 correspond with the customary perforations (not shown) in the rolling apron-|92 upon which the binder B is placed by the operator. The suction chamber 264 is' connected to a duct 266 formed by a channel 261 of bed plate 26 (Figure 3) and a channel 268 of magazine frame |22. The bottom portion of channel 261 is provided with an opening 269 (Figure 4) to which is fastened a valve 216 (Figures 1, 2 and 4) which through a tube 21| is connected to .a conventional suction fan not shown) supplying suction for the scrap bunch machine. Valve 210 is provided with van outlet 212 (Figure 4) to which is connected the conduit |61 leading to funnel |66 attached to the rear end of the magazine (Figure 4). Valve 216 is also provided with a shutter plate 213 (Figures 1, 2 and 4) mounted` on a shaft 214 supported by bearings in said valve. To shaft 214 is fastened a lever 215, which through a link 216 l is connected with a lever 211 mounted on a shaft 216 supported in bearing lugs 219 (Figure 2) of When roller 26| engages' with cam piece 282, lever 286' ismoved upwardy andthereby causes shutter plate 213.- to movefupward and to close the open- `ingf2|9of the suction channel 266 which leads to 'the'vsuction 'chamber of the rolling table.

-When opening 269: is" closed? lby shutter plate 213,

the vsuc'tionsupplyfto the rolling table is shut oif, but is`-then directed through 'outlet'.212 and'conduit |61 totliejfrearend'ofthe-magazine, so that at this timeany vwaste tobacco,'dust','etc., falling lfrom the-rearof the chamber or between ngers -|65,for from `pusher |39 into funnel |66 will be carried awayv byv suctiony and deposited in a suitablefreceptacle (not shown); Y The plunger |39 is then in its rearmos't'position. As soon as roller V28| leaves the cam -piecef282, shutter plate213 drops, thereby clearing'openingv 269 and closing voutlet 213, thus directing all suction through `channel"2|6 to 'the'rolling t'able,fwhile the suction' supply4 tothe're'ar4v end ofthe magazine is entirely-cutoff. 'y f l 'y 'y U One end of the rolling apron is fastened to the front end of the rolling table 252, while the other end of said apron is fastened to-'an'apron drum 283.," The lattery is provided' forthe vpurpose of controlling'the action of the'apron during rolling roperation and through'proper adjustment a tight orioosewrapping of the bunch ,can beachieved. Thev apronfdrumf283 may be constructed and op- 'erat'ed in the lsarne'r'nanner as the apron take-up disclosedf in Letters Patent No. '1`,442, 200,Vgranteddanuary r16,- 1923, t0 V, J

Wahlstrom mechanism 'Aprondrum-shaftl 284 engages with an adjust'.

inghead '2'85"(Figure3)y which is equipped with a yshaft 266 carrying a sprocket-261 connected by means'of' a chain 268, with asprocket 289 pivoted on a 'shaft`296 'supported' by an arm 129| adjustably mounted on a stud 292 (Figure 1) held by a hub on one of the main supporting frames 2|.

Chain 288 is hooked to an 'arm 293 (Figures 1 and v3) pivoted on shaft |59. Arm 293 is provided with a weight 294 and is equipped with a cam `lever 295 which carries a cam roller 296 engaging with a track 291 of cam |63.

The machine isy equipped with an automatic stopswitch 298 (Figures 1 and 3) in order to stop the entire machine after the completion of each cycle of the same. This switch is mounted on a bracket 299 and is operated by means of a spring mounted roller 366, the latter by means of switch 298 causes a break of the electric circuit,

which de-energizes a solenoid 263 mounted on housing 29 (Figure 3). The armature (not shown) of solenoid 362 is connected with and opcrates the main clutch (not shown) of the machine supported in housing 29. The clutch preferably is of the same construction and design as that disclosed in patent application, SerialNo. 183,405 i'lled January 5, 1938, by Henry H. Wheeler, now Patent No. 2,316,828, issued April 20, 1943.

In order to start the machine again, the operator must depress a foot peda1 363, causing a stud 364 on an arm 365 to press against a switch button 366 therebyclose the circuit again. Foot peda1 363 and arm 365 are pivoted on shaft 258. An expansion spring 361 (Figure 1), anchored .between bracket -299 and arm4 365, assures the return of the arm and foot pedal, after the operator releases the latter. Arm 365 is also provided with a which will actuate switch 298 and stop screw 308 (Figure 1) to limit the upmost movement of arm 305. Bracket 299'is supported by means of shaft 258 and a shaft 309 held by frames 2|.

In the operation of this machine and more particularly the mechanism described hereinabove, suction is directed cyclically into the conduit |61 for removing Waste tobacco, dust, etc., which may fall into funnel |66 so that while suction is active in conduit |61 all waste materials are positively removed from the machine and delivered to a receptacle (not shown). It is also-evident that any waste tobacco tending to wedge between the upper and lower plates I2|, |31, respectively, 'will be removed from the top and bottom of the plunger |39 because of the construction and arrangement of fingers |65 which extend rearwardly at the rear of the top and bottom plates |31, I2| of thev compression chamber.

'I'he invention above described may be varied in construction within the scope of the claims for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many concrete embodiments of the same. 'I'he invention is not, therefore, to be restricted to theprecise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

l. In a cigar machine provided with a weighing device, and means for feeding tobacco to said de vice, a charge compression chamber positioned to receive tobacco from said device, plunger means movable in said chamber between inner and outer limits of movement for compressing charges of tobacco to a predetermined density, a pivoted trap door normally closing said chamber against uncontrolled introduction of tobacco from said device into said chamber, means for moving said trap door to open said chamber for introduction of tobacco thereinto and to coact with said device for discharging a weighed charge of tobacco from said device, a `distributing plate operable substan- 'tially simultaneously with said trap door for distributing tobacco in said chamber, a suction waste receiving duct adjacent the rear of said chamber, and means operating when said plunger means is located at its outer limit of movement for intermittently applying suction in said duct to draw off Waste particles from the rear of said chamber.

2. In a cigar machine, the combination with means for measuring charges of tobacco, of a compression chamber, means for intermittently feeding charges of tobacco to said chamber, a plunger movable in said chamber for compressing said charges to a predetermined density, means for separating measured bunch charges from tobacco in said chamber, a bunch rolling. apron, spaced fingers extending rearwardly from the bottom of said chamber, and means for reciprocating said plunger to position it once each cycle in cooperative engagement with said fingers, said fingers being constructed and arranged to provide an opening adjacent the tobacco engaging face of said plunger whereby material tending to cling tosaid plunger may fall free thereof through said .opening for removal from said machine.

3. In a cigar machine having a measuring chamber and means for intermittently feeding charges of tobacco to said chamber, a plunger movable in said chamber for compressing said tobacco to a predetermined density, spaced fingers extending rearwardly from the top and bottom of said chamber, and means for reciprocating said plunger to position it onse each cycle between said ngers and without said chamber, said iingers being constructed and arranged to provide an opening adjacent the tobacco engaging face of said plunger whereby material tending to cling to the top and bottom of said plunger may fall free thereof through said opening for removal 40 from said machine.

JAMES P. DURNING. 

